Lung cancer differential marker

ABSTRACT

An object of the present invention is to develop and provide a lung cancer differential marker with which lung cancer can be diagnosed conveniently and highly sensitively without depending only on increase or decrease in protein expression level between cancer patients and healthy persons. Another object of the present invention is to develop and provide a glycan marker capable of distinguishing histological types of lung cancer. Of serum glycoproteins, glycopeptide and glycoprotein groups whose glycan structures were altered specifically in lung cancer cell culture supernatants were identified, and they are provided as lung cancer differential markers.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national stage application filed under 35 USC §371 of PCT/JP2011/070635, filed Sep. 9, 2011, which claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-209932, filed Sep. 17, 2010, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

SUBMISSION OF SEQUENCE LISTING

The Sequence Listing associated with this application is filed in electronic format via EFS-Web and hereby incorporated by reference into the specification in its entirety. The name of the text file containing the Sequence Listing is 119244_00053_Revised_Sequence_Listing. The size of the text file is 206 KB, and the text file was created on Jan. 26, 2016.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein having a glycan or a fragment thereof, and a method for determining the presence or absence of lung cancer or the histological type of lung cancer using the same.

BACKGROUND ART

Lung cancer is a typical example of intractable cancers and is the first and second leading causes of cancer deaths in Japanese men and women, respectively, in 2009. The types of lung cancer are broadly classified into small cell cancer (small cell lung cancer) accounting for approximately 10% and non-small cell cancer accounting for approximately 90%. The types of non-small cell cancer are further classified into adenocarcinoma (lung adenocarcinoma) (60%), squamous cell carcinoma (lung squamous cell carcinoma) (25%), and large-cell cancer (large-cell lung cancer) (5%).

The small cell lung cancer is a very high-grade cancer and therefore has a strong tendency to metastasize even in an early stage. As seen in previous cases, it is likely that the small cell lung cancer has already metastasized systemically when found. Thus, non-surgical therapy is commonly selected for this cancer even if its metastasis to lymph nodes or other tissues is not confirmed. Since this cancer is highly sensitive to chemotherapy or radiation, chemotherapy is central to the non-surgical therapy.

By contrast, the non-small cell lung cancer, which constitutes a large portion of lung cancer cases, is low sensitive to chemotherapy or radiation. For its treatment, it is important to find the cancer relatively early and remove the lesion by surgical therapy.

Tests for lung cancer can be broadly classified, depending on the purposes of the tests, into three: (1) lung cancer assessment to test the probability of lung cancer; (2) definite diagnosis of lung cancer to confirm that this probable lung cancer is definitely lung cancer; and (3) determination of the stage of lung cancer progression to test the histological type and stage of progression of the definitely diagnosed lung cancer.

These tests generally adopt a method which involves detecting an abnormal shadow in the lung field by chest X-ray examination or CT scan and subsequently finally determining a cancer type and comprehensively determining the stage of progression by bronchoscopy or by the pathological diagnosis of biopsy samples obtained using biopsy or the like. However, cases with small cell cancer coexisting with non-small cell cancer or borderline cancers might be given different diagnostic outcomes among pathologists. Accurate definite diagnosis has not yet been established for lung cancer.

In recent years, tumor markers have been used in cancer prognosis or the like. The tumor markers refer to substances produced by cancer cells or substances produced by cells in response to cancer cells. The amounts of the tumor markers contained in serum reflect the amount or histological type of tumor. The tumor markers can therefore serve as an index for, for example, determining the presence or absence of cancer and as such, can be used in diagnostic aids, the prediction of a histological type or the stage of progression, the determination of therapeutic effects, the prediction of recurrence, prognosis, etc. Currently, some tumor markers, such as CEA, CYFRA, NSE, ProGRP, SCC, and SLX, are also known for lung cancer (Non Patent Literatures 1 to 3). All of these tumor markers, however, are based on the difference in protein expression level, i.e., increase or decrease in protein expression, in blood or tissue between healthy persons and lung cancer patients. These tumor markers are usually expressed even in normal cells and are thus low specific for lung cancer. Hence, the obtained results present the problem of low reliability or detection sensitivity. In addition, lung cancer markers useful in determining the histological type of detected lung cancer have not yet been found.

CITATION LIST Non Patent Literature

-   Non Patent Literature 1: Molina R, et al., (2005) Anticancer Res 25:     1773-1778. -   Non Patent Literature 2: Mizuguchi S, et al., (2007) Ann Thorac Surg     83: 216-221. -   Non Patent Literature 3: Holdenrieder S, et al., (2008) Clin Cancer     Res 14: 7813-7821.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

An object of the present invention is to develop a lung cancer differential marker with which lung cancer can be diagnosed conveniently and highly sensitively without depending only on increase or decrease in protein expression level between cancer patients and healthy persons. More specifically, an object of the present invention is to develop a lung cancer-specific differential marker glycoprotein and a fragment thereof, which serve as an indication for suffering lung cancer.

Another object of the present invention is to develop a lung cancer differential marker capable of determining the histological type of lung cancer.

A further object of the present invention is to develop a glycan probe for differential diagnosis of lung cancer, with which the presence or absence of lung cancer and further, its histological type can be determined by histological staining.

Solution to Problem

The compositional and structural diversities of glycans on proteins secreted from cells are controlled by the balanced expression of hundreds of glycan-related genes and vary depending on the degrees of cell differentiation and cancer progression. Glycoproteins whose glycan structures are altered can be used as disease condition index markers including tumor markers. In recent years, such glycan-related tumor markers based on proteomics have been searched for actively. In the pipeline of the marker search, first, candidate molecules are identified by large-scale analysis at phase 1. Subsequently, the candidate molecules are tested by quantitative analysis at phase 2 to narrow down the candidates. Then, a validation test is conducted at phase 3.

In order to attain the objects, the present inventors have searched for lung cancer differential markers using glycoproteomics based on the marker search pipeline. As a result, the present inventors have successfully identified, from among serum glycoproteins, novel glycoprotein or glycopeptide groups having lung cancer-specific structures detected in a lung cancer cell culture supernatant. The present inventors have also revealed that the presence or absence of lung cancer and the histological type of lung cancer can be determined using these glycoprotein or glycopeptide groups. The present invention is based on these findings and provides the followings:

(1) A lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein listed in Table 1 or 2, being glycosylated with a glycan at the asparagine residue(s) at the glycosylation site(s) shown in Table 1 or 2:

TABLE 1 Protein Small cell cancer Adenocarcinoma Glycosylation SEQ # Protein name gi(ID) AAL ConA AAL ConA site Peptide sequence NO. 1 acid alpha-glucosidase gi|119393891, ◯ X X X 390 QVVENMTR 1 gi|119393893 470 GVFITNETGQPLIGK 2 882 GAYTQVIFLARNNTIVNELVR 3 2 biotinidase gi|4557373 X X ◯ X 119 DVQIIVFPEDGIHGFNFTR 4 150 FNDTEVLQR 5 349 SHLIIAQVAKNPVGLIGAENATGETDPSHSK 6 349 NPVGLIGAENATGETDPSHSKFLK 7 3 cathepsin D gi|4503143 X X ◯ X 263 YYKGSLSYLNVTR 8 4 cathepsin L1 gi|22202619, ◯ X X X 221 YNPKYSVANDTGFVDIPKQEK 9 gi|4503155 221 YSVANDTGFVDIPK 10 5 cathepsin L2 gi|23110960 ◯ X X X 221 YRPENSVANDTGFTVVAPGKEK 11 292 NLDHGVLVVGYGFEGANSNNSK 12 6 cell adhesion molecule 4 gi|21686977 ◯ X X X 67 QTLFFNGTR 13 7 deoxyribonuclease II, gi|4503349 ◯ X X X 86 SNTSQLAFLLYNDQPPQPSK 14 lysosomal 8 fibronectin 1 gi|47132557 (isoform 1), X X ◯ X 430 GGNSNGALCHFPFLYNNHNYTDCTSEGR 15 gi|47132551 (isoform 2), 528 DQCIVDDITYNVNDTFHK 16 gi|16933542 (isoform 3), 542 RHEEGHMLNCTCFGQGR 17 gi|47132555 (isoform 4), 542 HEEGHMLNCTCFGQGR 18 gi|47132553 (isoform 5), 1007 ESKPLTAQQTTKLDAPTNLQFVNETDSTVLVR 19 gi|47132549 (isoform 6), 1007 LDAPTNLQFVNETDSTVLVR 20 gi|47132547 (isoform 7) 1291 WTPLNSSTIIGYR 21 9 galectin-3-binding gi|122937327 ◯ X X X 44 ADVGGEAAGTSINHSQAVLQR 22 protein-like 61 QGNASDVVLR 23 307 FFDVNGSAFLPR 24 10 insulin-like growth gi|119964726 ◯ X X X 112 SLLEFNTTVSCDQQGTNHR 25 factor 2 receptor 435 MSVINFECNKTAGNDGK 26 582 TNITLVCKPGDLESAPVLR 27 2085 GYPCGGNKTASSVIELTCTK 28 11 insulin-like growth factor gi|62243248 (isoform a), X X ◯ X 116 GLCVNASAVSR 29 binding protein 3 gi|62243068 (isoform b) 205 YKVDYESQSTDTQNFSSESKR 30 12 insulin-like growth factor gi|56090548 X ◯ X X 166 DGPCEFAPVVVVPPRSVHNVTGAQVGLSCEVR 31 binding protein-like 1 166 SVHNVTGAQVGLSCEVR 32 13 integral membrane protein 1 gi|22749415 X ◯ X X 548 TILVDNNTWNNTHISR 33 14 L1 cell adhesion molecule gi|4557707 (isoform 1), X X ◯ ◯ 433 ILTADNQTYMAVQGSTAYLLCK 34 gi|13435353 (isoform 2) 671 WYSLGKVPGNQTSTTLK 35 777 VQWRPQGTRGPWQEQIVSDPFLVVSNTSTFVPYEIK 36 979 THNLTDLSPHLR 37 15 lysosomal acid phosphatase 2 gi|4557010 ◯ X X X 133 FNPNISWQPIPVHTVPITEDR 38 167 YEQLQNETRQTPEYQNESSR 39 177 QTPEYQNESSR 40 16 melanoma cell adhesion gi|71274107 ◯ X X X 56 CGLSQSQGNLSHVDWFSVHK 41 molecule 418 CVASVPSIPGLNR 42 17 melanoma-associated antigen gi|134244281 (isoform 1), ◯ ◯ X X 38 WCATSDPEQHKCGNMSEAFR 43 p97 gi|16163666 (isoform 2) 515 DCDVLTAVSEFFNASCVPVNNPK 44 18 neogenin homolog 1 gi|4505375 X ◯ X X 73 GSSVILNCSAYSEPSPK 45 210 VIKLPSGMLVISNATEGDGGLYR 46 470 TPASDPHGDNLTYSVFYTK 47 19 neural cell adhesion gi|94420689 (isoform 1), ◯ X X X 347 TSTRNISSEEK 48 molecule 1 gi|115529482 (isoform 2), 449 DGQLLPSSNYSNIK 49 gi|115529478 (isoform 3) 478 IYNTPSASYLEVTPDSENDFGNYNCTAVNR 50 20 neuronal pentraxin 11 gi|28195384 ◯ X X X 148 ANVSNAGLPGDFR 51 189 VAELEDEKSLLHNETSAHR 52 21 neuronal pentraxin receptor gi|17402888 X ◯ X X 42 ALPGGADNASVASGAAASPGPQR 53 22 ribonuclease T2 gi|5231228 X X ◯ X 106 AYWPDVIHSFPNR 54 212 QDQQLQNCTEPGEQPSPK 55 23 secretogranin III gi|19557645 ◯ ◯ X X 68 KTYPPENKPGQSNYSFVDNLNLLK 56 346 NKLEKNATDNISK 57 24 sel-1 suppressor of gi|19923669 X ◯ X X 608 EASIVGENETYPR 58 lin-12-like 25 sparc/osteonectin, cwcv and gi|7662036 ◯ ◯ X X 225 LRDWFQLLHENSKQNGSASSVAGPASGLDK 59 kazal-like domains 225 QNGSASSVAGPASGLDK 60 proteoglycan (testican) 2 26 Thy-1 cell surface antigen gi|19923362 ◯ ◯ X X 42 LDCRHENTSSSPIQYEFSLTR 61 27 tubulointerstitial gi|11545918 X X ◯ X 78 GRADDCALPYLGAICYCDLFCNR 62 nephritis antigen-like 1 161 AINQGNYGWQAGNHSAFWGMTLDEGIR 63 28  v-kit Hardy-Zuckerman 4 gi|4557695 (isoform 1), ◯ ◯ X X 130 SLYGKEDNDTLVR 64 feline sarcoma viral gi|148005039 (isoform 2) 367 TFTDKWEDYPKSENESNIR 65 oncogene homolog 463 CSASVLPVDVQTLNSSGPPFGK 66 486 LVVQSSIDSSAFKHNGTVECK 67 29 laminin alpha 5 gi|21264602 X X ◯ ◯ 95 LVGGPVAGGDPNQTIR 68 921 LNLTSPDLFWLVFR 69 1330 VWQGHANASFCPHGYGCR 70 1529 TIPPDCLLCQPQTFGCHPLVGCEECNCSGPGIQELT DPTCDTDSGQCK 71 2019 CEICAPGFYGNALLPGNCTR 72 2196 GINASSMAWAR 73 2209 LHRLNASIADLQSQLR 74 2303 TLSELMSQTGHLGLANASAPSGEQLLR 75 2423 DNATLQATLHAAR 76 2501 LVEAAEAHAQQLGQLALNLSSIILDVNQDRLTQR 77 2568 QGLVDRAQQLLANSTALEEAMLQEQQR 78 2707 GVHNASLALSASIGR 79 3107 LNTTGVSAGCTADLLVGR 80 3287 VFDLQQNLGSVNVSTGCAPALQAQTPGLGPR 81 30 laminin, beta 1 gi|4504951 X X ◯ ◯ 1041 KCVCNYLGTVQEHCNGSDCQCDK 82 1279 LSDTTSQSNSTAK 83 1487 QSAEDILLKTNATK 84 1643 AIKQADEDIQGTQNLLTSIESETAASEETLFNASQR 85 31 phospholipid transfer gi|5453914 (isoform a), X X ◯ ◯ 64 GKEGHFYYNISEVK 86 protein gi|33356541 (isoform b) 143 MKVSNVSCQASVSR 87 143 VSNVSCQASVSR 88 245 GAFFPLTERNWSLPNR 89 398 FRIYSNHSALESLALIPLQAPLK 90 193 GAFFPLTERNWSLPNR 91

TABLE 2  Protein Small cell cancer Adenocarcinoma Glycosylation SEQ # Protein name gi(ID) AAL ConA AAL ConA site Peptide sequence NO 1 activated leukocyte cell gi|68163411 X ◯ X X 167 KLGDCISEDSYPDGNITWYR 92 adhesion molecule 265 NAIKEGDNITLK 93 265 EGDNITLK 94 361 NATVVWMKDNIR 95 480 YYSKIIISPEENVTLTCTAENQLER 96 2 alpha 2 type V collagen gi|89363017 X X X ◯ 1400 EASQNITYICK 97 preproprotein 3 amiloride binding gi|73486661 X X ◯ ◯ 538 LENITNPWSPR 98 protein 1 4 aspartate beta-hydroxylase gi|14589866 (isoform a) X X X ◯ 452 LVQLFPNDTSLKNDLGVGYLLIGDNDNAKK 99 5 aspartate beta-hydroxylase gi|14589864 (isoform b) ◯ ◯ X X 64 DFRYNLSEVLQGK 100 6 beta-1,3-galactosyl-O- gi|148277029, X X ◯ X 58 HLELAGENPSSDINCTK 101 glycosyl-glycoprotein gi|148277031, 95 WTPDDYINMTSDCSSFIK 102 beta-1,6-N-acetyl- gi|148277033, glucosaminyltransferase gi|148277035, gi|21614523 7 bone morphogenetic gi|4502421 X X ◯ ◯ 142 AATSRPERVWPDGVIPFVIGGNFTGSQR 103 protein 1 363 ISVTPGEKIILNFTSLDLYR 104 599 LNGSITSPGWPK 105 8 calsyntenin 2 gi|11545861 ◯ X X X 98 IHGQELPFEAVVLNKTSGEGR 106 374 NLTDQFTITMWMK 107 716 QECLELNHSELHQR 108 729 HLDATNSTAGYSIYGVGSMSR 109 9 carboxypeptidase D gi|22202611 X ◯ X X 172 LLNTTDVYLLPSLNPDGFERAR 110 522 RFANEYPNITR 111 978 HIWSLEISNKPNVSEPEEPKIR 112 1070 GKDLDTDFTNNASQPETK 113 10 CD47 antigen gi|4502673 (isoform 1), X ◯ X X 73 GRDIYTFDGALNK 114 gi|38683836 (isoform 2), 73 DIYTFDGALNKSTVPTDFSSAK 115 gi|68223315 (isoform 3) 111 MDKSDAVSHTGNYTCEVTELTR 116 11 CD63 antigen gi|4502679 (isoform A), X ◯ X X 130 QQMENYPKNNHTASILDR 117 gi|91199546 (isoform B) 130 NNHTASILDR 118 172 NRVPDSCCINVTVGCGINFNEK 119 12 CD97 antigen gi|17978491 (isoform 1), X X ◯ X 108 TFKNESENTCQDVDECQQNPR 120 gi|17978489 (isoform 2), 453 RLSAVNSIFLSHNNTK 121 gi|68508955 (isoform 3) 360 RLSAVNSIFLSHNNTK 122 108 TFKNESENTCQDVDECQQNPR 123 404 RLSAVNSIFLSHNNTK 124 13 complement factor I gi|119392081 X X ◯ X 103 FLNNGTCTAEGK 125 177 FKLSDLSINSTECLHVHCR 126 177 LSDLSINSTECLHVHCR 127 464 SIPACVPWSPYLFQPNDTCIVSGWGR 128 494 LISNCSKFYGNR 129 14 cystatin F gi|20302139 X X ◯ ◯ 84 YSVEKFNNCTNDMFLFK 130 84 FNNCTNDMFLFKESR 131 137 LDDCDFQTNHTLK 132 15 desmocollin 2 gi|13435364 X X X ◯ 546 SLDREAETIKNGIYNITVLASDQGGR 133 629 AINDTAAR 134 16 epithelial V-like gi|21536337 X X X ◯ 39 VLEAVNGTDAR 135 antigen 1 118 LQFDDNGTYTCQVK 136 17 FAT tumor suppressor 1 gi|66346693 X X ◯ ◯ 333 AIGGIDWDSHPFGYNLTLQAK 137 998 QVYNLTVR 138 1551 IVVNVSDTNDHAPWFTASSYK 139 3716 QLLHKINSSVTDIEEIIGVR 140 18 fibrinogen-like 2 gi|5730075 X X ◯ ◯ 263 LDGSTNFTR 141 336 LHVGNYNGTAGDALR 142 19 Fraser syndrome 1 gi|108773804 X X ◯ ◯ 1107 IHTPSLHVNGSLILPIGSIKPLDFSLLNVQDQEGR 143 1503 IVYNITLPLHPNQGIIEHR 144 1776 ISGSEVEELSEVSNFTMEDINNKK 145 2562 YTSYNVSEK 146 2667 VIINDTEDEPTLEFDKK 147 20 growth differentiation gi|4758936 X X X ◯ 70 LRANQSWEDSNTDLVPAPAVR 148 factor 15 70 ANQSWEDSNTDLVPAPAVRILTPEVR 149 21 immunoglobulin gi|148664190 (isoform 1), ◯ X X X 101 FQLLNFSSSELK 150 superfamily, member 4D gi|148664211 (isoform 2) 113 VSLTNVSISDEGR 151 isoform 1 22 integrin, alpha 1 gi|31657142 X X X ◯ 418 NTTFNVESTK 152 883 DSCESNHNITCK 153 1113 SENASLVLSSSNQK 154 23 intercellular adhesion gi|4557878 X X ◯ X 202 TELDLRPQGLELFENTSAPYQLQTFVLPATPPQLVSPR 155 molecule 1 267 LNPTVTYGNDSFSAK 156 24 interleukin 6 receptor gi|4504673 X X X ◯ 93 SVQLHDSGNYSCYR 157 25 latent transforming growth gi|18497288 X X ◯ X 89 DSCQQGSNMTLIGENGHSTDTLTGSGFR 158 factor beta binding 349 RLNSTHCQDINECAMPGVCR 159 protein 3 845 DRSHCEDIDECDFPAACIGGDCINTNGSYR 160 26 mucin 16 gi|83367077 X X ◯ X 12586 NTSVGLLYSGCR 161 13193 KFNITESVLQGLLKPLFK 162 14363 NIEDALNQLFRNSSIK 163 14417 NGTQLQNFTLDR 164 27 netrin 4 gi|93204871 X X ◯ X 56 KLWADTTCGQNATELYCFYSENTDLTCRQPK 165 163 YFATNCSATFGLEDDVVKK 166 28 neuronal cell adhesion gi|81158226 X ◯ X X 223 FNHTQTIQQK 167 molecule isoform A 245, 251 VISVDELNDTIAANLSDTEFYGAK 168 276 ERPPTFLTPEGNASNKEELR 169 314 EDGMLPKNR 170 507 GSALHEDIYVLHENGTLEIPVAQKDSTGTYTCVAR 171 858 VNVVNSTLAEVHWDPVPLK 172 29 olfactomedin related ER gi|17136143 (isoform 1), ◯ ◯ X X 85 QLLEKVQNMSQSIEVLDR 173 localized protein gi|5453547 (isoform 2) 85 VQNMSQSIEVLDRR 174 270 SMVDFMNTDNFTSHR 175 376 LDPVSLQTLQTWNTSYPKR 176 85 QLLEKVQNMSQSIEVLDR 177 30 osteoprotegerin gi|148743793 X X ◯ ◯ 98 ELQYVKQECNR 178 152 CPDGFFSNETSSKAPCR 179 178 GNATHDNICSGNSESTQK 180 289 HIGHANLTFEQLR 181 31 palmitoyl-protein gi|4506031 X X X ◯ 212 GINESYKK 182 thioesterase 1 (ceroid- 232 FLNDSIVDPVDSEWFGFYR 183 lipofuscinosis, neuronal 1, infantile) 32 peptidylprolyl isomerase gi|4758950 X X X ◯ 148 HYGPGWVSMANAGKDTNGSQFFITTVK 184 B 33 plasminogen activator, gi|4505861 X X ◯ ◯ 152 GTWSTAESGAECTNWNSSALAQKPYSGR 185 tissue type I 219 AGKYSSEFCSTPACSEGNSDCYFGNGSAYR 186 219 YSSEFCSTPACSEGNSDCYFGNGSAYR 187 483 CTSQHLLNRTVTDNMLCAGDTR 188 34 prion protein gi|122056623, X X X ◯ 197 QHTVTTTTKGENFTETDVK 189 gi|122056625, 197 GENFTETDVK 190 gi|122056628, gi|34335270, gi|4506113, 35 prostaglandin H2 D- gi|32171249 X X X ◯ 51 WFSAGLASNSSWLR 191 isomerase 78 SVVAPATDGGLNLTSTFLR 192 36 protein tyrosine gi|109633041 (isoform 1), ◯ X X X 721 KVEVEPLNSTAVHVYWK 193 phosphatase, receptor gi|109633039 (isoform 2), 966 DINSQQELQNITTDTRFTLTGLKPDTTYDIK 194 type, F 721 KVEVEPLNSTAVHVYWK 195 957 DINSQQELQNITTDTRFTLTGLKPDTTYDIK 196 37 protein tyrosine gi|110735404 (isoform 1), X X ◯ X 410 QLTLQWEPLGYNVTR 197 phosphatase, receptor gi|110735406 (isoform 2), type, U gi|l10735402 (isoform 3) 38 seizure related 6 gi|6912612 (isoform 1), ◯ ◯ X X 177 LLANSSMLGEGQVLR 198 homolog (mouse)-like 2 gi|42491358 (isoform 2) 303 IVSPEPGGAVGPNLTCR 199 247 LLANSSMLGEGQVLR 200 373 IVSPEPGGAVGPNLTCR 201 39 seizure related 6 gi|32261332 ◯ X X X 328 SVNLSDGELLSIR 202 homolog (mouse)-like 40 seizure related 6 gi|148839280 (isoform 1), X ◯ X X 399, 422 HLTCLNATQPFWDSKEPVCIAACGGVIRNATTGR 203 homolog gi|148839346 (isoform 2) 436, 440 IVSPGFPGNYSNNLTCHWLLEAPEGQR 204 41 serine carboxypeptidase gi|83641874, ◯ ◯ X X 346 QAIHVGNQTFNDGTIVEK 205 vitellogenic-like gi|83641876 42 solute carrier family 39 gi|55741750 X X ◯ X 191, 198 LHHHLDHNNTHHFHNDSITPSER 206 (zinc transporter), 218 GEPSNEPSTETNKTQEQSDVKLPK 207 member 10 339 KDLNEDDHHHECLNVTQLLK 208 43 tenascin C (hexabrachion) gi|4504549 X X ◯ X 38 QSGVNATLPEENQPVVFNHVYNIK 209 327 CINGTCYCEEGFTGEDCGKPTCPHACHTQGR 210 788 QTGLAPGQEYEISLHIVKNNTRGPGLK 211 1018 LNYSLPTGQWVGVQLPR 212 1034 NTTSYVLRGLEPGQEYNVLLTAEK 213 1079 VKASTEQAPELENLTVTEVGWDGLR 214 1093 LNWTAADQAYEHFIIQVQEANKVEAAR 215 1485 LLETVEYNISGAER 216 44 tissue factor pathway gi|5454114 X X ◯ X 145 YFYNNQTK 217 inhibitor 45 transforming growth gi|63025222 X X ◯ ◯ 82 LRLASPPSQGEVPPGPLPEAVLALYNSTR 218 factor, beta 1 46 tumor-associated calcium gi|4505059, X X ◯ X 111 QCNGTSTCWCVNTAGVR 219 signal transducer 1 gi|4505057 168 HRPTAGAFNHSDLDAELR 220 47 UDP-GIcNAc:betaGal beta- gi|9845238 X X ◯ X 89 LSNISHLNYCEPDLR 221 1,3-N-acetyl- glucosaminyltransferase 2 173 ESWGQESNAGNQTVVR 222 48 von Willebrand factor A gi|38348304 X X ◯ ◯ 147 NASVPQILIIVTDGK 223 domain containing 2

(2) The lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein according to (1), wherein the sugar chain is at least one glycan selected from the group consisting of a fucosylated glycan, a high mannose-type glycan, a hybrid-type glycan, a biantennary complex-type glycan, chitin, polylactosamine, and a β1,3-galactose epitope.

(3) The lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein according to (2), wherein the glycoprotein is for differential diagnosis of small cell lung cancer or lung adenocarcinoma.

(4) The lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein according to (3), wherein the glycoprotein is for differential diagnosis of small cell lung cancer and is at least one glycoprotein selected from the group consisting of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM1), secretogranin III, and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-L1 (IGFBP-L1).

(5) The lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein according to (3), wherein the glycoprotein is for differential diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma and is fibronectin 1.

(6) A fragment of a lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein according to any of (1) to (5), comprising at least one asparagine residue at a glycosylation site shown in Table 1 or 2 being glycosylated with a glycan.

(7) A method for determining lung cancer, comprising detecting at least one lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein shown in Table 1 or 2 being glycosylated with a glycan at the asparagine residue(s) at the glycosylation site(s) shown in Table 1 or 2, and/or at least one fragment thereof, the fragment comprising at least one asparagine residue at the glycosylation site shown in Table 1 or 2 being glycosylated with a glycan, from a sample obtained from a test subject, wherein the detection of the glycoprotein or fragment determines that the test subject suffers lung cancer.

(8) The method according to (7), wherein the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein and/or the fragment thereof are detected using at least one glycan probe binding to the glycan.

(9) The method according to (8), wherein the glycan probe binds to a fucosylated glycan, a high mannose-type glycan, a hybrid-type glycan, a biantennary complex-type glycan, chitin, polylactosamine, or a β1,3-galactose epitope.

(10) The method according to (8) or (9), wherein the glycan probe is a lectin, an antibody, or a phage antibody.

(11) The method according to (10), wherein the lectin is AAL, ConA, PWM, or PNA.

(12) The method according to (11), wherein the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein is neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM1), and the detection of the binding thereof to AAL determines the histological type of the lung cancer as small cell cancer.

(13) The method according to (11), wherein the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein is secretogranin III, and the detection of the binding thereof to AAL and/or ConA determines the histological type of the lung cancer as small cell cancer.

(14) The method according to (11), wherein the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein is insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-L1 (IGFBP-L1), and the detection of the binding thereof to ConA and/or PWM determines the histological type of the lung cancer as small cell cancer.

(15) The method according to (11), wherein the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein is fibronectin 1, and the detection of the binding thereof to AAL and/or PNA determines the histological type of the lung cancer as adenocarcinoma.

(16) The method according to any of (8) to (11), wherein the histological type of lung cancer is determined as small cell cancer or adenocarcinoma on the basis of a result of binding of the glycan probe to the glycan in the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein and/or the fragment thereof, and a manner of binding of the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein shown in Table 1 or 2 and/or the fragment thereof to the glycan probe.

(17) The method according to any of (7) to (16), wherein the sample is a body fluid, a cell, or a lung lavage.

(18) The method according to (17), wherein the body fluid is blood (including serum, plasma, and interstitial fluid), lymph, a cell extract, sputum, or pleural effusion.

(19) A lung cancer cell-identifying antibody for histological staining, binding to a lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein listed in Table 1 or 2 being glycosylated with a glycan at the asparagine residue(s) at the glycosylation site(s) shown in Table 1 or 2, and/or a fragment thereof, the fragment comprising at least one asparagine residue at a glycosylation site shown in Table 1 or 2 being glycosylated with a glycan, and thereby diagnosing lung cancer.

(20) The antibody according to (19), wherein the antibody is capable of determining a histological type of a lung cancer cell.

(21) The antibody according to (20), wherein the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein is neuronal pentraxin receptor (NPR), and the histological type of the lung cancer cell is determined as small cell cancer.

The present specification encompasses the contents described in the specification and/or drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-209932 on which the priority of the present application is based.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the lung cancer differential marker of the present invention, the presence or absence of lung cancer can be determined conveniently and highly reliably by the testing of a body fluid, a cell, or a lung lavage. According to the lung cancer differential marker of the present invention, the histological type of lung cancer can be further determined.

The method of the present invention can determine the presence or absence of lung cancer and the histological type of lung cancer using a body fluid, a cell, or a lung lavage with a more highly proper differential rate and lower invasiveness than existing tumor markers.

According to the glycan probe for differential diagnosis of lung cancer of the present invention, the presence or absence of lung cancer and further, its histological type can be determined by histological staining.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a Western blot image showing the expression of small cell lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins in the culture supernatants of cultured small cell lung cancer cells (Sc) and cultured lung adenocarcinoma cells (Ad).

FIG. 2 is a Western blot image showing the expression of lung adenocarcinoma differential marker glycoproteins in the culture supernatants of cultured small cell lung cancer cells (Sc) and cultured lung adenocarcinoma cells (Ad).

FIG. 3 is a Western blot image in which lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins in the culture supernatants of cultured small cell lung cancer cells (Sc) and cultured lung adenocarcinoma cells (Ad) fractionated with each lectin were detected with their respective anti-lung cancer differential marker protein antibodies.

FIG. 4 is a blot image in which a lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein (fibronectin 1) in the culture supernatants of cultured small cell lung cancer cells (Sc) and cultured lung adenocarcinoma cells (Ad) fractionated with an antibody (anti-fibronectin 1 antibody) was detected with AAL lectin.

FIG. 5 is a Western blot image in which lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins (NCAM and fibronectin 1) in the sera of small cell lung cancer patients (Sc) and lung adenocarcinoma patients (Ad) fractionated with AAL lectin were detected with their respective anti-lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein antibodies

FIG. 6 is a Western blot image in which a lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein (secretogranin III) in the sera of small cell lung cancer patients (Sc) and lung adenocarcinoma patients (Ad) fractionated by the serial chromatography of the sera was detected with an antibody (anti-secretogranin III antibody).

FIG. 7 is an image of histological staining of each histological type of lung cancer with an anti-neuronal pentraxin receptor (NPR) antibody.

FIG. 8 is a Western blot image in which a lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein (secretogranin III) in the sera of small cell lung cancer patients (Sc) and lung adenocarcinoma patients (Ad) fractionated by the multisample serial chromatography of the sera was detected with an antibody (anti-secretogranin III antibody).

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the comparison of fluorescence signal intensities on PWM lectin spots, from a lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein (insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-L1), in an antibody-overlay lectin array using eluates purified using an antibody (anti-insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-L1 antibody) from the culture supernatants of cultured small cell lung cancer cells (Sc) and cultured lung adenocarcinoma cells (Ad).

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the comparison of fluorescence signal intensities on PNA lectin spots, from a lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein (fibronectin 1), in an antibody-overlay lectin array using eluates purified using an antibody (anti-fibronectin 1 antibody) from the culture supernatants of cultured small cell lung cancer cells (Sc) and cultured lung adenocarcinoma cells (Ad).

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

1. Lung Cancer Differential Marker Glycoprotein and Fragment Thereof

The first embodiment of the present invention provides lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins shown in Table 1 or 2 above and fragment thereof.

1-1. Lung Cancer Differential Marker Glycoprotein

The “lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein” of this embodiment corresponds to a protein represented by each of Protein #1 to #31 in Table 1 and Protein #1 to #48 in Table 2. All of these proteins are lung cancer-specific glycoproteins comprising, in their amino acid sequences, a glycosylated asparagine residue at least at a position (counted from the initiating amino acid residue as the first position) represented by “Glycosylation site” in each table. In the case of, for example, acid alpha-glucosidase represented by Protein #1 in Table 1, glycans are linked to asparagine residues at least at positions 390, 470, and 882 in the amino acid sequence of this protein. Hereinafter, in the present specification, such a glycosylated protein is referred to as a “glycoprotein”.

In each table, “gi(ID)” represents the ID number of each glycoprotein of this embodiment. A plurality of gi(ID) numbers registered for one protein are all described in the table. Also, a plurality of isoforms of one protein are indicated by isoform numbers together with their gi(ID) numbers in the table.

The glycan linked to the asparagine residue is not particularly limited as long as the glycan is linked in a lung cancer-specific manner. Examples thereof include fucosylated glycans, high mannose-type glycans, hybrid-type glycans, biantennary complex-type glycans, chitin, polylactosamine, and β1,3-galactose epitopes. In this context, the “glycan linked in a lung cancer-specific manner” refers to a glycan linked to the asparagine residue represented by “Glycosylation site” in the table, only in the lung cancer cell-derived protein. Hence, as a rule, the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein of this embodiment is a glycoprotein produced from a lung cancer cell. Thus, the detection of presence or absence of the glycoprotein, for example, in the serum of a test subject, using a glycan probe recognizing this glycoprotein can determine an individual having the glycoprotein as suffering lung cancer.

In the present specification, the “glycan probe” refers to a determinant that specifically recognizes a particular glycan and/or glycoconjugate such as a glycoprotein and binds thereto. Examples thereof include lectins, antibodies, and phage antibodies.

As described above, the histological types of “lung cancer” are known to consist of: small cell cancer; and non-small cell cancer further including adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell cancer. Neuroendocrine cancer in the lung is also known. Most of the neuroendocrine cancer types are classified into small cell cancer, whereas the other histological types of this cancer are also known. The lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein of this embodiment can determine the histological type of lung cancer, depending on the type of the glycan linked to the prescribed asparagine residue. In the case of, for example, acid alpha-glucosidase represented by Protein #1 in Table 1, fucosylated glycans are linked to the prescribed asparagine residues only in a small cell lung cancer-derived glycoprotein. Thus, use of a lectin or an antibody that can bind to and recognize any of the fucosylated glycans can diagnose lung cancer with acid alpha-glucosidase as a lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein. In this case, the acid alpha-glucosidase can also serve as a marker that confirms the lung cancer as small cell cancer. Alternatively, in the case of biotimidase represented by Protein #2 in Table 1, fucosylated glycans are linked to the prescribed asparagine residues only in a lung adenocarcinoma-derived glycoprotein. Thus, use of a lectin or an antibody that can bind to and recognize any of the fucosylated glycans can diagnose lung cancer with biotimidase as a lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein. In this case, the biotimidase can also serve as a marker that confirms the lung cancer as adenocarcinoma.

The fucosylated glycan can be detected using AAL lectin. The high mannose-type glycan, the hybrid-type glycan, and the biantennary complex-type glycan can be detected using ConA lectin. The chitin and the polylactosamine can be detected using PWM lectin. The β1,3-galactose epitope can be detected using PNA lectin. In Table 1, the presence and absence of the binding between each lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein and AAL lectin or ConA lectin are indicated by “◯” and “x”, respectively. Taking acid alpha-glucosidase represented by Protein #1 as an example, only a small cell lung cancer-derived glycoprotein has fucosylated glycans at the prescribed asparagine residues and is thus indicated by “◯” in “AAL” of “Small cell cancer” and by “x” in the other boxes. The same holds true for the other lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins in Tables 1 and 2. Accordingly, each lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein (including a fragment of the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein) shown in Tables 1 and 2 can serve as a marker for differentiation of small cell lung cancer or lung adenocarcinoma based on the manner of its binding to AAL lectin and ConA lectin for “small cell cancer” and “adenocarcinoma” in Tables 1 and 2.

1-2. Fragment of Lung Cancer Differential Marker Glycoprotein

The “lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein fragment” or the “fragment of the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein” of this embodiment refers to an oligopeptide or polypeptide fragment consisting of a portion of the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein. This fragment comprises, in its amino acid sequence, at least one asparagine residue at the glycosylation site shown in Table 1 or 2, wherein the lung cancer-specific glycan described in the paragraph “1-1. Lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein” is linked to this asparagine residue.

The amino acid length of the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein fragment is not particularly limited and is preferably 5 to 100 amino acids, 8 to 80 amino acids, or 8 to 50 amino acids. Hereinafter, in the present specification, the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein fragment is also referred to as a “glycoprotein fragment” or a “glycopeptide”. Hereinafter, the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein and its glycoprotein fragment are also collectively referred to as a “lung cancer differential marker”.

Specific examples of the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein fragment include glycopeptides consisting of amino acid sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 223 shown in Tables 1 and 2. These are glycoprotein fragments that were obtained by an IGOT method (described later) in identifying the lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins of this embodiment. Any of these glycoprotein fragments can be used as a lung cancer differential marker, as in the lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins, to determine the presence or absence of lung cancer and determine the histological type of the detected lung cancer, depending on the type of glycan linked to the prescribed asparagine residue. In each amino acid sequence shown in Tables 1 and 2, the underlined asparagine residue (N) represents a glycan-linked asparagine residue.

1-3. Obtainment of Lung Cancer Diagnosis Marker Glycoprotein

Methods by which the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein fragments and the lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins of this embodiment were obtained and identified will be described below.

1-3-1. Large-Scale Identification of Lung Cancer-Specific Candidate Glycoprotein

The large-scale selective collection and concentration of the lung cancer-specific glycoproteins can adopt any of methods broadly classified into, for example, a method using probes having affinity for glycans, a method using chemical reaction with glycans (Zhang H. et al., Nat Biotechnol 21, 660-666 (2003)), and a method of introducing affinity tags to glycans. Here, the method using probes, which were used in the obtainment of the lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins in Tables 1 and 2, will be described.

First, lectins or anti-glycan antibodies reactive with glycans characteristically produced by cancer cells are selected as probes.

The probe lectins can be selected by the statistical analysis of glycan profiles using a lectin microarray. Alternatively, the probe lectins may be selected in consideration of literature information (some probe lectins to be used can be expected on the basis of, for example, increased fucosylation associated with malignant transformation) or the resulting determination performance of the histological type. Basically, lectins are selected by the statistical analysis of profile, and the selected lectins are validated on the basis of binding specificity. In the case of targeting lung cancer, for example, Aleuria aurantia-derived AAL lectin capable of detecting fucosylation, Canavalia ensiformis-derived ConA lectin capable of detecting high mannose-type, hybrid-type, or biantennary complex-type glycans, Phytolacca americana-derived PWM lectin capable of detecting chitin or polylactosamine, and/or Arachis hypogaea-derived PNA lectin capable of detecting β1,3-galactose epitopes can be used.

The antibody probes or phage antibody probes may be prepared after structural determination of antigens (glycans). This is not a necessary condition, and these probes can also be prepared against the unknown structures of the antigenic glycans or glycopeptides.

For the large-scale identification of candidate glycoproteins, specifically, candidate glycoproteins are first collected from the culture supernatant of a lung cancer-derived cell line in a medium using the glycan probes (probe lectins and/or antibody probes or phage antibody probes). Use of the lung cancer-derived cell culture supernatant enables cancer cell-derived glycoproteins to be identified and can thus facilitate the detection of difference from glycans present on the serum-derived glycoproteins of healthy persons. This information can be useful in selectively obtaining candidate molecules from serum. The cells used may be derived from any histological type of lung cancer, i.e., small cell cancer or non-small cell cancer (adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or large cell cancer). Candidate glycoproteins may be collected from each histological type, and the results can be analyzed by comparison to obtain histological type-nonspecific lung cancer differential markers or histological type-specific lung cancer differential markers.

1-3-2. Identification of Glycopeptide by IGOT Method

The collected lung cancer differential marker candidate glycoproteins are then treated by a method based on an isotope-coded glycosylation site-specific tagging (IGOT) method and mass spectrometry to identify core glycopeptides in the candidate glycoproteins. The glycopeptides can be analyzed by a Lec-IGOT-LC/MS method described in, for example, JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2004-233303 A (2004) (JP Patent No. 4220257) and Kaji H, et al., Mass spectrometric identification of N-linked glycopeptides using lectin-mediated affinity capture and glycosylation site-specific stable isotope tagging. Nature Protocols 1, 3019-3027 (2006). An example of the specific method will be described below.

(1) Glycan Cleavage and IGOT Method

The candidate glycoprotein groups collected with the probe lectins or the probe antibodies are digested with protease. From the obtained peptide groups, candidate glycopeptide groups are sampled and re-collected using the same probes as above. Alternatively, crude sample protein mixtures may be digested with protease without separating candidate glycoprotein groups from the crude sample protein mixtures, and candidate glycopeptide groups can be collected directly from the obtained crude peptide groups using the probe lectins or the probe antibodies. Subsequently, the obtained candidate glycopeptides are labeled by the IGOT method. The IGOT method involves dissociating glycans from the glycopeptides by treatment with enzymes such as glycopeptidase in oxygen isotope-labeled water, while causing the conversion of glycosylated asparagine to aspartic acid, during which the oxygen isotope (¹⁸O) in the water is incorporated into the candidate glycopeptides.

(2) LC/MS Shotgun Analysis of Labeled Peptide

The candidate glycopeptides labeled by the IGOT method are separated by liquid column chromatography (LC) and applied to mass spectrometry (MS). Their amino acid sequences are exhaustively identified by tandem mass spectrometry.

(3) Identification of Candidate Glycopeptide

According to, for example, an MS/MS ion search method described in the Standard Technology Collection (edited by the Japan Patent Office), Mass spectrometry, 3-6-2-2 Amino acid sequence analysis, a database can be searched by comparing the respective MS/MS peptide measurement results of the obtained candidate glycopeptides with the hypothetical MS/MS spectra of all peptides predicted according to the specificity of the protease actually used from the amino acid sequences of all proteins registered in the database. In this search, the following amino acid modifications are taken into consideration: oxidation of methionine residue side chain, pyroglutamic acid conversion (deamination or cyclization) of ammo-terminal glutamine, deamination of an amino terminus (carbamidomethylation of cysteine), deamidation of asparagine residue side chain (provided that the stable isotope oxygen is already incorporated therein). The candidate glycoproteins including the candidate glycopeptide are identified using search software Mascot.

(4) Identification of Glycosylation Site

Of the candidate glycopeptides identified by the MS/MS ion search method, each candidate glycopeptide that has an asparagine residue with deamidated (stable isotope-incorporated) side chain and contains an N-linked glycosylation consensus sequence (Asn-Xaa-[Ser/Thr], provided that Xaa is not Pro) is regarded as the glycoprotein fragment of this embodiment. Also, the asparagine residue in the consensus sequence of the obtained glycoprotein fragment is defined as the glycosylation site. When Xaa is Lys/Arg and the identified peptide sequence is cleaved at this site, the candidate glycopeptide in which a residue subsequent to Xaa is [Ser/Thr] with reference to the amino acid sequence of the whole protein thereof is also included in the glycoprotein fragment. As a rule, the glycosylation site is contained in the consensus sequence, although some reports suggest different glycosylation sites. In this specification, a glycosylation site cleaved with peptide-N-glycanase (glycopeptidase F, PNGase) can be identified.

The lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein fragment groups selected by the method described above and the lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins (comprising these fragments) identified on the basis of their amino acid sequences are defined as the glycoprotein fragment groups and the glycoproteins shown in Tables 1 and 2.

The glycoprotein fragment groups and the glycoproteins can serve as lung cancer differential markers for diagnosing lung cancer in a test subject, for example, by testing the presence or absence thereof in the serum of the test subject using lectins or antibodies recognizing them.

1-3-3. Validation of Lung Cancer Differential Marker

The significance of the lung cancer differential markers selected in the paragraph 1-3-2 can be further validated. For example, from among the glycoproteins and/or the glycoprotein fragments collected with the probe lectins from the lung cancer cell culture supernatant, significant lung cancer differential markers can be detected and confirmed by Western blot or immunoprecipitation using antibodies specifically recognizing the lung cancer differential markers separated and identified above. In the present specification, 31 lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins shown in Table 1 and fragments of the glycoproteins correspond to the lung cancer differential markers further selected by the detection with the antibodies.

Also, the lung cancer differential markers further selected by the detection with the antibodies may be further validated. For example, lung cancer differential markers are collected using the probe lectins from the sera of lung cancer patients, and significant markers can be further detected using the specific antibodies. As an example, neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM 1) (represented by Protein #19 in Table 1) and fibronectin 1 (represented by Protein #8 in Table 1) shown in FIG. 5, and secretogranin III (represented by Protein #23 in Table 1) shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 correspond to the lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins confirmed to be useful by this further validation. In this context, the neural cell adhesion molecule binds to AAL lectin only in small cell lung cancer as shown in Table 1 and can thus serve as a lung cancer differential marker that allows differential diagnosis of small cell lung cancer. Likewise, the secretogranin III binds to AAL lectin and ConA lectin only in small cell lung cancer as shown in Table 1 and can thus serve as a lung cancer differential marker that allows differential diagnosis of small cell lung cancer. By contrast, the fibronectin 1 binds to AAL lectin only in lung adenocarcinoma as shown in Table 1 and can thus serve as a lung cancer differential marker that allows differential diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma. Alternatively, for example, lung cancer differential markers may be collected from the culture supernatant of a lung cancer cell line using specific antibodies, and useful markers can be detected using a lectin array. As an example, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-L1 (IGFBP-L1) (represented by Protein #12 in Table 1) shown in FIG. 9 and fibronectin 1 (represented by Protein #8 in Table 1) shown in FIG. 10 correspond to the lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins confirmed to be useful by the further validation. In this context, the insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-L1 (IGFBP-L1) produces a strong detectable fluorescence signal on a PWM lectin spot in small cell lung cancer as shown in FIG. 9 and can thus serve as a lung cancer differential marker that allows differential diagnosis of small cell lung cancer. By contrast, the fibronectin 1 produces a detectable fluorescence signal on a PNA lectin spot only in lung adenocarcinoma as shown in FIG. 10 and can thus serve as a lung cancer differential marker that allows differential diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.

1-4. Detection of Lung Cancer Differential Marker Glycopeptide and Glycoprotein

1-4-1. Mass Spectrometry

The lung cancer differential marker glycopeptides and glycoproteins can be detected with a mass spectrometer as a detector from samples collected with the probe lectins or the like binding to glycans.

The collected lung cancer differential marker glycopeptides can be detected, preferably, by the cleavage of their glycans followed by liquid chromatography (LC) to separate and elute peptides, which are then introduced in order directly to a mass spectrometer (MS) on line. The mass spectrometry is not only available for obtaining mass spectra, but also available for obtaining MS/MS spectra using a fragmentation method such as collision-induced dissociation (CID) and further detect a plurality of fragment ions generated by CID or the like only when pre-selected ions are detected (this approach is also called single reaction monitoring or multiple reaction monitoring). Furthermore, analyte peptides differing in mass by the incorporation of stable isotopes into some of synthesized core peptide moieties of lung cancer differential marker glycopeptides may be added to analysis samples, and their respective signal intensities can be compared to thereby achieve relative or absolute quantitative analysis. More simply, the signal intensity of the detected ion may be compared between two or more samples or with that of a reference sample to achieve simplified quantification.

The lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins can be detected using various proteomics approaches known in the art. For example, the collected proteins can be separated by one-dimensional or two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and quantified by the comparison of signal intensities (dye, fluorescence, etc.) between the target spot and a reference sample. In the case of a detection method using a mass spectrometer, the collected protein groups are digested with protease, and the formed peptides can be detected by LC/MS analysis. For such quantification, various methods based on stable isotope labeling (ICAT, MCAT, iTRAQ, SILAC, etc.) can be used in combination with a non-labeled simple quantification method (peptide counting method, area integration method, etc.). As further described later, the glycoproteins may be quantified by ELISA.

1-4-2. Lectin Microarray

(1) Glycan Profiling Using Lectin Microarray

(a) Lectin Microarray (Also Simply Referred to as a Lectin Array)

The lectin array refers to a substrate on which plural types of lectins differing in specificity are immobilized in parallel (i.e., in the form of array) as glycan probes. The lectin array allows concurrent analysis on the types of lectins interacted with analyte glycoconjugates and the degrees of these interactions. By use of this lectin array, information required for estimating glycan structures can be obtained by single analysis, while the steps from sample preparation to scanning can be carried out quickly and conveniently. In a glycan profiling system such as mass spectrometry, glycoproteins cannot be analyzed directly and must thus be decomposed into glycopeptides or free glycans in advance. In the lectin microarray, advantageously, glycoproteins can be analyzed directly by merely introducing, for example, fluorescent materials directly into the core protein moieties thereof. The lectin microarray technique has been developed by the present inventors, and the fundamental principles of this technique are described in, for example, Kuno A., et al. Nat. Methods 2, 851-856 (2005).

Typical examples of the lectins used in the lectin array include those described in the following Table 3:

[Table 3]

#1 Sugar Binding Specificity

For example, a lectin array comprising 45 types of lectins (including the 43 types of lectins described above) immobilized on a substrate is already commercially available under the product name of LecChip from GP Biosciences Ltd.

(2) Statistical Analysis of Glycan Profiles Using Lectin Array

The lectin array has already evolved into a practical technique by which a quantitative comparative glycan profiling can be realized not only for purified preparations but also for mixed samples such as serum or cell lysates. Particularly, the comparative glycan profiling of cell surface glycans has achieved remarkable development (Ebe, Y et al. J. Biochem. 139, 323-327 (2006); Pilobello, K. T. et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 104, 11534-11539 (2007); and Tateno, H. et al. Glycobiology 17, 1138-1146 (2007)).

Also, data mining by the statistical analysis of glycan profiles can be carried out by a method shown in, for example, “Kuno A, et al. J Proteomics Bioinform. 1. 68-72 (2008)” or “the Japanese Society of Carbohydrate Research 2008/8/18, Development of Application Technique for Lectin Microarray—Comparative Glycan Profiling and Statistical Analysis of Biological Sample-, Atsushi Kuno, Atsushi Matsuda, Yoko Itakura, Hideki Matsuzaki, Hisashi Narimatsu, Jun Hirabayashi” and “Matsuda A, et al. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 370, 259-263 (2008)”.

(3) Antibody-Overlay Lectin Microarray Method

The platform of the lectin microarray in this method is basically the same as above. For detection, the sample of the test subject is not directly labeled with a fluorescent material or the like but is indirectly labeled by the introduction of a fluorescent group or the like into the sample of the test subject via an antibody. This application method can realize concurrent multisample analysis more conveniently and quickly (see “Kuno A, Kato Y, Matsuda A, Kaneko M K, Ito H, Amano K, Chiba Y, Narimatsu H, Hirabayashi, J. Mol. Cell Proteomics. 8, 99-108 (2009)”, “Jun Hirabayashi, Atsushi Kuno, Noboru Uchiyama, “Development of Application Technology for Glycan Profiling Using Lectin Microarray”, Experimental Medicine, extra number “Study on Cancer Diagnosis at Molecular Level—Challenge to Clinical Application”, Yodosha Co., Ltd., Vol. 25 (17) 164-171 (2007)”, Atsushi Kuno, Jun Hirabayashi, “Application of Glycan Profiling System Based On Lectin Microarray to Glycan Biomarker Search”, and Genetic Medicine MOOK No. 11 “Development of Clinical Glycan Biomarker and Elucidation of Glycan Function”, pp. 34-39, Medical Do, Inc. (2008)).

For example, glycan moieties in glycoprotein samples obtained from a test subject are recognized by lectins on the lectin microarray. Thus, antibodies against the core protein moieties thereof can be overlaid on the glycoproteins to thereby specifically and highly sensitively detect the glycoproteins without labeling the test glycoproteins or highly purifying them.

(4) Lectin-Overlay Antibody Microarray Method

This method employs, instead of the lectin microarray, an antibody microarray in which antibodies against core proteins are immobilized in parallel (i.e., in the form of array) on a substrate such as a glass substrate. This method requires the same numbers of antibodies as the number of markers to be examined and also requires determining lectins in advance for detecting the alteration of glycans.

1-4-3 Lectin-Antibody Sandwich Immunological Detection

A simple and inexpensive sandwich detection method can be designed on the basis of the results obtained using the lectin array. Basically, this method can adopt the protocol of the sandwich detection method using two types of antibodies except that one of the antibodies is replaced by lectins. Thus, this approach is also applicable to automatization using an existing automatic immunodetection apparatus. The point to be noted is only the reaction between antibodies and lectins to be used for sandwiching antigens. Each antibody has at least two N-linked glycans. When the lectins used recognize glycans on the antibodies, background noise inevitably occurs during sandwich detection due to the binding reaction therebetween. A possible approach for preventing the generation of this noise signal involves modifying the glycan moieties on the antibodies or using only Fab fragments, which contain no such glycan moieties. These approaches have already been known in the art. For the method of modifying the glycan moieties, for example, Chen S. et al., Nat. Methods. 4, 437-44 (2007) and Comunale M A, et al., J Proteome Res. 8, 595-602 (2009) can be referred to. For the method using Fab fragments, for example, Matsumoto H., et al., Clin Chem Lab Med 48, 505-512 (2010) can be referred to.

1-4-4. Method Using Serial Chromatography

The antibody-overlay lectin array is the best approach for statistically finding lectins that most precisely reflect the disease-specific alteration of glycans on the lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins. This approach, however, inevitably requires antibodies that permit immunoprecipitation and overlay detection. Nevertheless, such antibodies are not always available. In this regard, the immunological quantitative detection of target glycoproteins from among glycoproteins collected with probe lectins is generally carried out as means for using a larger number of candidate molecules in the detection of lung cancer. Specifically, SDS-PAGE is performed, and target glycoproteins are immunologically detected by Western blot after membrane transfer. The signal intensities of the obtained bands can be compared to thereby quantitatively estimate the change between samples. The significance of each marker candidate can be validated on the basis of change in the amount of the protein having the cancer-specific alteration of a glycan, to thereby narrow down the candidate glycoproteins. In this embodiment, generally, the AAL lectin used in the step of identifying candidate molecules is also used as a probe protein in this validation. Examples of practice under such a strategy include the report of Liu Y et al., J Proteome Res. 9, 798-805 (2010). Serum proteins are known to differ in the structures (the degree of branching, etc.) or fucosylation (core fucose, blood group antigen, etc.) of their N-linked glycans, depending on the types thereof. Reportedly, even the same molecules may therefore be differently fucosylated. For example, Nakagawa T. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 281, 29797-29806 (2006) discloses that al antitrypsin molecules are differently fucosylated. Such proteins may or may not be increased at different times depending on the type of disease and the stage of its progression. Thus, the approach is not ideal, in which all fucose-containing glycoproteins are collected using AAL probes, which can recognize almost all fucosylation patterns and collect the glycoproteins, and the collected glycoproteins are quantitatively compared. Hence, we have conceived that proteins are separated and fractionated by serial chromatography using two different fucose-recognizing lectins and these fractions are quantitatively compared and analyzed. The lectins used in this approach are LCA and AAL. Previous lectin specificity analysis has revealed that the LCA lectin recognizes core-fucosylated glycans with fewer branches, among N-linked glycans. The AAL lectin is known to be capable of recognizing every core fucose with any number of branches in N-linked glycans as well as even fucosylation at the non-reducing end typified by ABO, Lewis antigens, or the like. This means that LCA has high specificity while AAL has low specificity. Thus, in the first step, fucose-containing glycoproteins binding to LCA are captured by LCA column chromatography. These glycoproteins are regarded as LCA-bound fucose-containing glycoproteins. In this chromatography, fucose-containing glycoproteins having no core-fucosylated N-linked glycan with fewer branches are fractionated into unbound fractions without binding to the LCA column. In order to capture such fucose-containing glycoprotein groups from the LCA-unbound fractions, the LCA-unbound fractions are subjected to AAL column chromatography. The glycoprotein groups captured by AAL in this step are regarded as LCA-unbound/AAL-bound fucose-containing glycoproteins. These procedures can presumably evaluate increase or decrease in fucosylation of the same protein associated with the disease, on the basis of the type of modification.

2. Method for Determining Lung Cancer

The second embodiment of the present invention provides a method for determining lung cancer. The method of this embodiment comprises detecting the lung cancer differential marker of embodiment 1 from a sample obtained from a test subject, wherein the detection of the glycoprotein or fragment determines that the test subject suffers lung cancer.

2-1. Definition and Summary

In the present specification, the “test subject” refers to a person to be subjected to a test, i.e., a human donor of a sample described later. The test subject may be any of patients having a certain disease or healthy persons. The test subject is preferably a person possibly having lung cancer or a lung cancer patient.

The “sample” refers to a part that is obtained from the test subject and subjected to the differential method of this embodiment. For example, a body fluid, a cell from cancer tissue or the like, or a lung lavage obtained during operation applies to the sample.

The “body fluid” refers to a biological sample in a liquid state obtained from the test subject. Examples thereof include blood (including serum, plasma, and interstitial fluid), lymph, extracts of each tissue or cell, pleural effusion, sputum, spinal fluid, lacrimal fluid, nasal discharge, saliva, urine, vaginal fluid, and seminal fluid. The body fluid is preferably blood, lymph, pleural effusion, or sputum. The body fluid may be used, if necessary, after treatment such as the dilution or concentration of the sample obtained from the test subject or the addition of an anticoagulant such as heparin thereto. Alternatively, the body fluid may be used directly without such pretreatment. The body fluid can be obtained by a method known in the art. For example, blood or lymph can be obtained according to a blood collection method known in the art. Specifically, peripheral blood can be obtained from the vein or the like of a peripheral site by injection. The body fluid may be used immediately after obtainment. Alternatively, the body fluid may be cryopreserved or refrigerated for a given period and then treated, if necessary, by thawing or the like before use. In this embodiment, in the case of using serum, sufficient amounts of lung cancer differential markers can be detected using a volume of 10 μL, to 100 μL, 20 μL, to 80 μL, to 70 μL to 60 μL, or 45 μL to 55 μL.

In the differential method of this embodiment, the lung cancer diagnosis marker used in detection can be any lung cancer diagnosis marker as long as the marker is a lung cancer marker glycoprotein listed in Table 1 or 2 being glycosylated with a glycan at the asparagine residue(s) at the glycosylation site(s) shown in Table 1 or 2, or a glycoprotein fragment thereof comprising at least one asparagine residue at the glycosylation site shown in Table 1 or 2 being glycosylated with a glycan. These lung cancer diagnosis markers may be used alone or in combination of two or more thereof in the diagnosis method of this embodiment. For example, two or more different lung cancer diagnosis marker glycoproteins may be used. Alternatively, two or more different fragments of the same lung cancer diagnosis marker glycoprotein may be used. Preferably, the lung cancer diagnosis marker(s) shown in Table 1 is used. More preferably, lung cancer diagnosis markers having the same or different diagnostic characteristics for small cell lung cancer and lung adenocarcinoma are used. Examples of the use method include a method using neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM1), secretogranin III, and/or insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-L1 (IGFBP-L1) shown in Table 1 for differential diagnosis of small cell lung cancer, in combination with fibronectin 1 shown in Table 1 for differential diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma as the lung cancer differential markers of this embodiment. This method is convenient because it can determine the presence or absence of lung cancer in the test subject while also determining the histological type (small cell cancer or adenocarcinoma) of the lung cancer. When the lung cancer differential marker shown in Table 1 or 2 is detected from the sample of the test subject by any method using, alone or in combination, lectins or antibodies binding to a fucosylated glycan, a high mannose-type glycan, a hybrid-type glycan, a biantennary complex-type glycan, chitin, polylactosamine, and/or a β1,3-galactose epitope, this test subject can be confirmed to have lung cancer or to be highly likely to have lung cancer. For example, the fucosylated glycan can be detected using AAL lectin specifically binding thereto. The high mannose-type glycan, the hybrid-type glycan, and the biantennary complex-type glycan can be detected using ConA lectin specifically binding thereto. The chitin and the polylactosamine can be detected using PWM lectin specifically binding thereto. The β1,3-galactose epitope can be detected using PNA lectin specifically binding thereto.

Alternatively, the histological type of lung cancer in the test subject may be confirmed as small cell cancer or adenocarcinoma on the basis of results of binding of the lectin to the glycan in the lung cancer differential marker in the sample obtained from the test subject, and the manner of binding of the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein shown in Table 1 or 2 and/or the fragment thereof to the lectin. According to the manner of lectin binding of the glycoprotein shown in Table 1, for example, the glycans of acid alpha-glucosidase represented by Protein #1 bind to AAL lectin only in small cell lung cancer. Thus, when acid alpha-glucosidase bound to AAL lectin is detected from the sample obtained from a test subject, this test subject can be confirmed to have lung cancer whose histological type is small cell cancer. Alternatively, when neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM1) as the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein or its glycoprotein fragment bound with AAL lectin is detected, the histological type of lung cancer can be confirmed as small cell cancer. When fibronectin 1 as the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein or its glycoprotein fragment bound with AAL lectin or an anti-fibronectin 1 (fragment) antibody is detected, the histological type of lung cancer can be confirmed as adenocarcinoma.

2-2. Method for Detecting Lung Cancer Differential Marker

Examples of the method for detecting the lung cancer differential marker can include the combination of two methods: a method involving using a lectin specifically binding to a glycan in each lung cancer differential marker (hereinafter, in the present specification, this lectin is referred to as lectin A for the sake of convenience) to select a lung cancer differential marker having the glycan; and a method involving detecting a moiety (core protein) other than the glycan of each lung cancer differential marker to thereby detect the lung cancer differential marker. Alternative examples of the method can include a method involving using an antibody to detect the lung cancer differential marker of interest, the antibody being specific for the lung cancer differential marker having a glycan specifically binding to lectin A and recognizing an epitope located in proximity to the glycosylation site.

In this context, the method of detecting a glycan specifically binding to lectin A and the method of detecting a core protein may be a method of assaying a glycan specifically binding to lectin A and a method of assaying a core protein, respectively. For example, the lung cancer differential marker can be detected using an antibody against the core protein and lectin A to thereby differentiate between lung cancer patients and healthy persons. Preferably, the antibody overlay method using a lectin array (Kuno A, Kato Y, Matsuda A, Kaneko M K, Ito H, Amano K, Chiba Y, Narimatsu H, Hirabayashi J. Mol. Cell Proteomics. 8, 99-108 (2009)) can be used. More simply, the lectin-antibody sandwich immunological detection method can be used for detection.

Examples of the specific method for determining lung cancer using the lung cancer differential marker having a glycan specifically binding to lectin A include, a method comprising the following steps:

(1) separating lung cancer differential markers using lectin A from serum obtained from a test subject to thereby select a protein group having the glycan specifically binding to lectin A; and

(2) subsequently screening the lung cancer differential markers using an anti-lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein antibody specifically recognizing the moiety other than the glycan specifically binding to lectin A, to thereby detect the lung cancer differential marker of interest having the glycan specifically binding to lectin A, wherein when this marker is detected, this test subject is determined to be afflicted with lung cancer.

The lung cancer differential marker having the glycan specifically reacting with lectin A can be selected using, for example, the method of assaying a glycan specifically binding to lectin A using, specifically, a lectin A-immobilized column or array, and lung cancer differential marker assaying means, specifically, an antibody against the novel lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein or the fragment thereof. Preferably, the lectin-antibody sandwich ELISA or the antibody-overlay lectin array method can be used.

Also, the concentration of the lung cancer differential marker having the glycan specifically reacting with lectin A can be measured. Examples of the measurement method include the antibody-overlay lectin array method using a lectin array, LC-MS, immunoassay, enzymatic activity assay, and capillary electrophoresis. Preferably, a qualitative or quantitative approach can be used, which includes: LC-MS; and enzyme immunoassay, two-antibody sandwich ELISA, gold colloid method, radioimmunoassay, latex agglutination immunoassay, fluorescent immunoassay, Western blot, immunohistochemical method, surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (SPR method), and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) method, using a monoclonal or polyclonal antibody specific for the novel lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein having the glycan specifically reacting with lectin A or the fragment thereof.

2-3. Preparation of Specific Polyclonal and/or Monoclonal Antibodies Using Lung Cancer Differential Marker Glycoprotein or its Glycopeptide

In the method for detecting lung cancer using the novel lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein or its fragment glycopeptide, polyclonal and/or monoclonal antibodies specific for the differential marker glycoprotein or its glycopeptide may be used. For example, an easily obtainable antibody, such as a commercially available antibody, specific for the glycoprotein or the like can be used. If such an antibody is not easily obtainable, it can be prepared, for example, by the following method:

For example, the anti-lung cancer differential marker glycopeptide polyclonal antibody can be prepared using a well-known method. Specifically, an adjuvant is added to an obtained antigenic lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein or glycopeptide. The antigen used may be synthesized as a lung cancer differential marker glycopeptide containing glycosylation site(s) (asparagine residue(s)). Examples of the adjuvant include complete Freund's adjuvant and incomplete Freund's adjuvant. These adjuvants may be used as a mixture. The antigen may be inoculated, together with the adjuvant, to an antibody-producing animal to thereby boost antibody production. Alternatively, this peptide may be covalently bonded to commercially available keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and inoculated to an antibody-producing animal. In this procedure, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) may also be administered to the animal simultaneously therewith to thereby boost antibody production. Examples of the antibody-producing animal that can be used in antigen inoculation include mammals, for example, mice, rats, horses, monkeys, rabbits, goats, and sheep. Immunization can employ any of existing methods and is performed mainly by intravenous injection, hypodermic injection, intraperitoneal injection, or the like. The interval between immunization doses is not particularly limited and is an interval of several days to several weeks, preferably 4 to 21 days.

2 to 3 days after the final immunization date, whole blood is obtained from the immunized animal. After serum separation, the polyclonal antibody can be prepared.

Alternatively, for example, the anti-lung cancer marker glycopeptide monoclonal antibody can be prepared by the method of Kohler and Milstein (Nature Vol. 256, pp. 495-497 (1975)). For example, antibody-producing cells obtained from the antigen-immunized animal are fused with myeloma cells to prepare hybridomas. From the obtained hybridomas, clones producing the anti-lung cancer differential marker glycopeptide monoclonal antibody can be selected to thereby prepare the monoclonal antibody.

Specifically, 2 to 3 days after the final immunization date in the preparation of the polyclonal antibody, antibody-producing cells are collected. Examples of the antibody-producing cells include spleen cells, lymph node cells, and peripheral blood cells.

Cell lines that are derived from various animals (e.g., mice, rats, and humans) and are generally obtainable by those skilled in the art are used as the myeloma cells to be fused with the antibody-producing cells. The cell line used is a drug resistance cell line that cannot survive in a selective medium (e.g., HAT medium) in an unfused state, but can characteristically survive therein only in a fused state. In general, 8-azaguanine-resistant line is used. This cell line is deficient in hypoxanthine-guanine-phosphoribosyl transferase and cannot grow in a hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine (HAT) medium.

The myeloma cells have already been known in the art, and various cell lines can be used preferably, for example, P3(P3x63Ag8.653) (J. Immunol. 123, 1548-1550 1979)), P3x63Ag8U.1 (Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology 81, 1-7 (1978)), NS-1 (Kohler, G. and Milstein, C., Eur. J. Immunol. 6, 511-519 (1976)), MPC-11 (Margulies, D. H. et al., Cell 8, 405-415 (1976)), SP2/0 (Shulman, M. et al., Nature 276, 269-270 (1978)), FO (de St. Groth, S. F. et al., J. Immunol. Methods 35, 1-21 (1980)), 5194 (Trowbridge, I. S., J. Exp. Med. 148, 313-323 (1978)), and 8210 (Galfre, G. et al., Nature 277, 131-133 (1979)).

Next, the myeloma cells and the antibody-producing cells are fused with each other. This cell fusion is performed by the contact between the myeloma cells and the antibody-producing cells at a mixing ratio of 1:1 to 1:10 at 30 to 37° C. for 1 to 15 minutes in the presence of a fusion promoter in a medium for animal cell culture such as MEM, DMEM, or RPMI-1640 medium. A fusion promoter or a fusion virus, such as polyethylene glycol or polyvinyl alcohol having an average molecular weight of 1,000 to 6,000 or Sendai virus can be used for promoting the cell fusion. Alternatively, the antibody-producing cells and the myeloma cells may be fused with each other using a commercially available cell fusion apparatus based on electrical stimulation (e.g., electroporation).

After the cell fusion, hybridomas of interest are selected from the fused cells. Examples of the method therefor include a method using selective growth of the cells in a selective medium. Specifically, the cell suspension is diluted with an appropriate medium and then seeded over a microtiter plate. A selective medium (e.g., HAT medium) is added to each well, and the cells are subsequently cultured with the selective medium appropriately replaced by a fresh one. As a result, the cells that have grown can be obtained as hybridomas.

The hybridoma screening is performed by, for example, a limiting dilution method or a fluorescence excitation method using a cell sorter. Finally, monoclonal antibody-producing hybridomas are obtained. Examples of the method for obtaining the monoclonal antibody from the obtained hybridomas include ordinary cell culture and ascitic fluid formation methods.

3. Lung Cancer Cell-Identifying Antibody for Histological Staining

The third embodiment of the present invention provides a lung cancer cell-identifying antibody for histological staining. The antibody of this embodiment is an antibody that can specifically recognize and bind to the lung cancer differential marker according to embodiment 1, i.e., at least one lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein shown in Table 1 or 2 being glycosylated with a glycan at the asparagine residue(s) at the glycosylation site(s) shown in Table 1 or 2, and/or at least one fragment thereof, the fragment comprising at least one asparagine residue at the glycosylation site shown in Table 1 or 2 being glycosylated with a glycan, and thereby specifically identifying a lung cancer cell in histological staining.

The epitope of the lung cancer differential marker according to embodiment 1 recognized by the antibody of this embodiment is not particularly limited and is preferably a core protein or a fragment of the core protein, more preferably a moiety encompassing both of a glycan and its neighboring peptide sequence. In this case, the length of the peptide sequence is 5 to 15 amino acids, 5 to 10 amino acids, or 5 to 8 amino acids. In addition to this antibody probe, a phage antibody probe prepared using a phage can also be used as a glycan probe for identification of a lung cancer cell.

The antibody of this embodiment is capable of determining the histological type of a lung cancer cell. Examples of such an antibody include an antibody (R&D Systems, Inc., Anti-human Neuronal Pentraxin Receptor Antibody) against neuronal pentraxin receptor (NPR) represented by Protein #21 in Table 1. This anti-neuronal pentraxin receptor antibody is capable of specifically identifying a small cell cancer-derived cell, as shown in FIG. 7, and as such, can serve as an antibody for identification of a small cell cancer cell. Thus, the proteins collected and identified with cancer-specific glycan probe lectins are usually expressed at an exceedingly low level at other tissues or normal sites and thus include tissue markers that can function by means of only the antibody or the phage antibody without the need of differentiating between small cell cancer-derived cells and lung adenocarcinoma-derived cells using lectins or the like.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Selection of Glycopeptide Marker by Glycoproteomics (IGOT-LC/MS method)

1. Method for Preparing Culture Supernatant of Human Lung Cancer Cell

Three lung adenocarcinoma cell lines (H358, H1975, and LX-1) and three small cell lung cancer cell lines (H2171, H524, and H526) were separately cultured for 3 days using a high-glucose medium containing 90% DMEM and 10% FBS (PS+) in a dish having a diameter of 14 cm to achieve 80 to 90% confluence. The FBS-containing medium was discarded by aspiration, and the cells of each line were washed with 10 mL/dish of a serum-free medium (100% DMEM-high glucose, no additive). After addition of a serum-free medium at a concentration of 30 mL/dish, the cells were cultured for 48 hours. The cells thus cultured were centrifuged at 1000 rpm for 30 minutes to recover a supernatant. The supernatant (culture supernatant) was further recovered by centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 30 minutes and cryopreserved at −80° C. The culture supernatant stored at this temperature was thawed before use, filtered through a 0.45-μm filter, and then used in Examples below. NaN₃ was added to each culture supernatant to adjust the final concentration to 0.1%.

2. Method for Identifying Glycoprotein at Large Scale

(1) Preparation of Peptide Sample

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA, 100% saturated aqueous solution) was added at a final concentration of 10% to each culture supernatant thus prepared. The mixture was cooled on ice for 10 to 60 minutes to precipitate proteins. The precipitates were recovered by centrifugation at a high speed at 4° C. The precipitates were suspended in ice-cold acetone and washed twice to remove TCA. A lysis buffer solution (containing 0.5 M tris-HCl buffer solution, pH 8-8.5, 7 M guanidine hydrochloride, and 10 mM EDTA) was added to the precipitates to adjust the protein concentration to 5 to 10 mg/mL, while the proteins were lysed therein. In another method, each culture supernatant was applied to an ultrafiltration membrane having a molecular weight cutoff of 10,000 at 4° C. to concentrate proteins, to which a lysis buffer solution was then added. The protein solution was filtered again to prepare a sample protein solution.

Extracts were recovered from each supernatant by centrifugation at a high speed. Nitrogen gas was passed through or sprayed to the extracts to remove dissolved oxygen. Then, dithiothreitol (DTT) in the form of a powder or dissolved in a small amount of a lysis buffer solution was added thereto in an amount equal to the protein weight. The mixture was reacted at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours with nitrogen gas passed therethrough or in a nitrogen gas atmosphere to reduce the disulfide bond. Subsequently, iodoacetamide for S-alkylation was added thereto in an amount of 2.5 times the protein weight. The mixture was reacted at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours in the dark. The reaction solution was dialyzed at 4° C. (cooling room) against a 50- to 100-fold amount of a buffer solution (in general, 10 mM ammonium bicarbonate buffer solution, pH 8.6) as an external solution. The external solution was replaced by a fresh one three to five times at appropriate time intervals to remove the denaturant (guanidine hydrochloride) or an excess of the reagents. Although proteins were partially precipitated, this suspension was subjected directly to protein quantification. Trypsin (sequencing grade or higher) with a weight of 1/100 to 1/50 of the protein amount was added thereto to digest the proteins overnight (approximately 16 hours) at 37° C. The progression of the digestion was confirmed by SDS-gel electrophoresis. When sufficient digestion was confirmed, the reaction was terminated by the addition of phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) at a final concentration of 5 mM.

(2) Collection and Purification of Candidate Glycopeptide

The sample peptides prepared in the preceding step were applied to probe lectin (AAL lectin or ConA lectin)-immobilized columns. After washing, candidate glycopeptides were eluted by a method appropriate for the specificity of each lectin, i.e., using a buffer solution containing 5 mM fucose as to the AAL lectin and using a buffer solution containing 0.2 M methylmannoside as to the ConA lectin. To the obtained candidate glycopeptide solution, an equal volume of ethanol and a 4-fold volume of 1-butanol were added, and the mixture was applied to a Sepharose column equilibrated in advance with water:ethanol:1-butanol (1:1:4 (v/v)). The column was washed with this equilibrating solvent, and candidate glycopeptides were then eluted with 50% ethanol (v/v). Each candidate glycopeptide fraction was transferred in small portions to a microtube containing 2 μl, of glycerol and concentrated by centrifugation under reduced pressure (i.e., water was removed by centrifugation under reduced pressure). This procedure was repeated to concentrate all candidate glycopeptide fractions.

(3) Glycan Cleavage and Isotope-Coded Glycosylation Site-Specific Tagging (IGOT) Method

A necessary amount of a buffer solution was added to the purified candidate glycopeptides (glycerol solution), and the mixture was concentrated again by centrifugation under reduced pressure. Then, stable oxygen isotope-18 (¹⁸O)-labeled water (H₂ ¹⁸O) was added thereto to dissolve the concentrate (glycerol concentration: 10% or lower). Peptide-N-glycanase (glycopeptidase F, PNGase) prepared with labeled water was added thereto and reacted overnight at 37° C. This reaction causes the conversion of the glycosylated asparagine to aspartic acid, during which the oxygen isotope (¹⁸O) in the water is incorporated into the candidate glycopeptide to label the candidate glycopeptide.

(4) LC/MS Shotgun Analysis of Labeled Peptide

The IGOT reaction solution was diluted with 0.1% formic acid and subjected to LC/MS shotgun analysis. In this analysis, a nano-LC system based on a direct nano-flow pump was used for high-separation, high-reproducibility, and high-sensitivity detection. The injected candidate glycopeptides were temporarily collected onto a trap column (reverse-phase C18 silica gel carrier) intended for desalting. After washing, the glycopeptides were separated by the concentration gradient of acetonitrile using frit-less spray tip nano-columns (inside diameter: 150 μm×50 mL) packed with the same resins. The eluate was ionized via an electrospray interface and directly introduced into a mass spectrometer. The glycopeptides were analyzed by collision-induced dissociation (CID)-tandem mass spectrometry in a data-dependent mode in which two ions at the maximum to be analyzed were selected.

(5) Search for Candidate Glycopeptide by MS/MS Ion Search Method

Thousands of MS/MS spectra thus obtained were individually smoothed and converted to centroid spectra to prepare peak lists. On the basis of the peak lists, each candidate glycopeptide was identified by the MS/MS ion search method using a protein amino acid sequence database. The search engine used was Mascot (Matrix Science Ltd.). The following parameters were used for search conditions: a fragmentation method used: trypsin digestion, the maximum number of missed cleavage: 2, fixed modification: carbamidomethylation of cysteine, variable modifications: deamination of an N-terminal amino group (N-terminal glutamine), oxidation of methionine, ¹⁸O-incorporating deamidation of asparagine (glycosylation site), error tolerance of MS spectrum: 500 ppm, and error tolerance of MS/MS spectrum: 0.5 Da.

(6) Identification of Candidate Glycopeptide

The database was searched under the conditions described above. The obtained identification results were validated according to criteria shown below. The obtained candidate glycopeptides were regarded as lung cancer differential marker glycopeptides (lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein fragments).

(i) The probability score (coincidence probability: Expectation value) of identification is 0.05 or less.

(ii) The number of fragment ions contributing to identification is 4 or more.

(iii) Error (ppm) is not significantly deviated from systematic error (mass error being 0.5 Da or less).

(iv) Each identified peptide has consensus sequence(s) with the number of Asn modifications (conversion to Asp and incorporation of ¹⁸O) equal to or fewer than the number of the consensus sequence(s).

(7) Identification of Lung Cancer Differential Marker Glycoprotein

Glycoproteins containing the sequences of the selected lung cancer differential marker glycopeptides can be identified using these sequences. More specifically, the whole amino acid sequences of corresponding lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins were identified from the amino acid sequence database NCBI-Refseq on the basis of the “peptide sequences” of lung cancer differential marker glycopeptides represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 223 in Tables 1 and 2.

(Results)

The lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins obtained by the steps described above are shown in Table 2.

3. Validation of Culture Supernatant-Derived Protein by Immunoblot

Each of the culture supernatants of lung cancer cell lines (three lung adenocarcinoma cell lines: H358, H1975, and LX-1, and three small cell lung cancer cell lines: H2171, H524, and H526) separately cultured for 24 hours in a serum-free medium was concentrated 10-fold through Amicon Ultra-154 Centrifugal Filter Units (cutoff: 10 kDa, Millipore Corp.). Each sample (10 μL) was developed by SDS-PAGE on a 10%, 12.5%, or 17% acrylamide gel of XV PANTERA SYSTEM (Maruko Shokai Co., Ltd.) and then transferred to a PVDF membrane (GE Healthcare Japan Corp.) at 200 mA for 40 min. The blocking agent used was PBSTx (Dulbecco's PBS supplemented with 1% Triton X-100) containing 5% skimmed milk or 5% BSA dissolved therein. The membrane was blocked at room temperature for 1 hour. After 10-minute washing three times with PBSTx, the membrane was reacted for 1 hour with primary antibodies (Table 4) biotinylated in advance with Biotin Labeling Kit-NH₂ (Dojindo Laboratories). After 10-minute washing three times with PBSTx again, the membrane was reacted for 1 hour with secondary antibody-HRP-conjugated streptavidin (1:3000 dilution, GE Healthcare Japan Corp.). After 10-minute washing three times with PBSTx, the enzymatic reaction of HRP was caused using Western Lightning Chemiluminescence Reagent Plus (PerkinElmer, Inc.). The obtained signals were developed onto Amersham Hyperfilm ECL (GE Healthcare Japan Corp.). The amounts of proteins present in the culture supernatants derived from the lung adenocarcinoma and small cell lung cancer cell lines were analyzed by comparison.

TABLE 4 Antibody # Antibody name [Manufacturer: Catalog No./Distributer] 01 neural cell adhesion molecule 1 (NCAM-1/CD56) [LSP: MAB24081/Funakoshi Corp.] 02 neuronal pentraxin II (NPTX2) [LSP: LS-C53292-50/Funakoshi Corp.] 03 Thy-1 cell surface antigen [ABV: H00007070-M01/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 04 insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor (IGF-IIR) [RSD: AF2447/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 05 insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor (IGF-IIR) [RSD: MAB2447/Funakoshi Corp.] 06 acid alpha-glucosidase preproprotein (GAA) [LSP: LS-C80648-50/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 07 sparc/osteonectin, cwcv and kazal-like domains proteoglycan 2 (testican2/SPOCK2) [RSD: MAB2328/Funakoshi Corp.] 08 sparc/osteonectin, cwcv and kazal-like domains proteoglycan 2 (testican2/SPOCK2) [ABV: H00009806-B01P/Funakoshi Corp.] 09 cell adhesion molecule 4 (CADM4) [LSP: LS-C36881/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 10 secretogranin III (SgIII) [SCB: SC-1492/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 11 melanoma-associated antigen p97 (MFI2) [ABV: H00004241-B01P/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 12 cathepsin L2 preproprotein (CTSL2) [ABV: PAB8639/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 13 cathepsin L2 preproprotein (CTSL2) [DFK: F-106/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 14 lysosomal acid phosphatase 2 precursor (ACP2) [ABV: PAB7218/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 15 lysosomal acid phosphatase 2 precursor (ACP2) [ABV: H00000053-M01/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 16 cathepsin L1 (CTSL1) [ABV: PAB8638/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 17 cathepsin L1 (CTSL1) [ABV: MAB1432/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 18 deoxyribonuclease II, lysosomal precursor (DNASE2) [ABV: H00001777-B01P/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 19 integral membrane protein 1 (ITM1) [SCB: SC-100796/Funakoshi Corp.] 20 integral membrane protein 1 (ITM1) [ABV: H00003703-M02/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 21 neuronal pentraxin receptor (NPTXR/NPR) [RSD: AF4414/Funakoshi Corp.] 22 neuronal pentraxin receptor (NPTXR/NPR) [LSP: LS-C73727-100/Funakoshi Corp.] 23 neuronal pentraxin receptor (NPTXR/NPR) [SCB: SC-12483/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 24 sushi domain containing 2 (SUSD2) [ABV: H00056241-B01/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 25 sel-1 suppressor of lin-12 like (SEL1L) [LSP: LS-B2253-50/Funakoshi Corp.] 26 sel-1 suppressor of lin-12 like (SEL1L) [LSP: LS-C55443-100/Funakoshi Corp.] 27 sel-1 suppressor of lin-12 like (SEL1L) [ABV: PAB7473/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 28 source of immunodominant MHC-associated peptides (STT3B) [PG: 15323-1-AP/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 29 IGFBP-L1 [RSD: AF3877/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 30 neural cell adhesion molecule 1 (NCAM-1/CD56) [SCB: sc-71647/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 31 Fibronectin (H-300) [SCB: sc-9068/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 32 Galectin-3BP/MAC-2BP (MAC2BP) [RSD: AF2226/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 33 Cathepsin D [RSD: AF1014/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 34 Fibronectin (C-20) [SCB: sc-6952/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 35 neogenin homolog 1 (NGN) [SCB: SC-15337]/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 36 laminin alpha 5 [SCB: SC-20145/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 37 laminin, beta 1 precursor [SCB: sc-17763/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 38 phospholipid transfer protein isoform b precursor (PLTP) [RSD: AF5109/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 39 melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM) [Millipore: MAB16985/] 40 L1 cell adhesion molecule isoform 2 precursor (L1CAM) [LSP: LS-C49042/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 41 biotinidase precursor (BTD) [ABV: H00000686-M01/Funakoshi Corp.] 42 ribonuclease T2 precursor (RNASET2) [ABV: H00008635-B01/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 43 tubulointerstitial nephritis antigen-like 1 (TINAGL1) [ABV: H00064129-B02P/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 44 v-kit Hardy-Zuckerman 4 feline sarcoma viral oncogene homolog isoform 2 precursor (KIT) [LSP: LS-C40873-100/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] 45 secretogranin III (SgIII) [SCB: SC-50289] 46 secretogranin III (SgIII) [SIGMA: HPA-006880] 47 IGFBP-L1 [RSD: BAF3877/Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.] (Results)

The lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins obtained by the steps described above are shown in Table 1 and FIGS. 1 and 2.

4. Batch Fractionation of Culture Supernatant Using AAL Lectin

The culture supernatants were fractionated using AAL lectin. Specifically, an AAL-conjugated resin was washed five times with a 3-fold amount of PBS and then prepared into a 50% slurry solution. To 30 μL of the prepared AAL-conjugated resin, 30 μL of each culture supernatant was added, and the resin was shaken at 4° C. for 5 hours. After centrifugation (2,000 rpm, 2 min.), the supernatant was removed, and 50 μL of a wash buffer (0.1% SDS in PBST, and 0.1% Triton X-100) was then added to the resulting resin. After centrifugation (2,000 rpm, 2 min.) two times, 500 μL of a wash buffer was added thereto. The supernatant was removed by centrifugation (2,000 rpm, 2 min.), and the resin was washed. For elution from the washed resin, 15 μL of 0.2 M fucose in PBS containing 0.02% SDS was added thereto, and the resin was shaken at 4° C. for 5 hours. After centrifugation (2,000 rpm, 2 min.), the supernatant was recovered. 15 μL of an elution buffer was further added thereto, and the resin was centrifuged (2,000 rpm, 2 min.) to elute AAL-bound fractions. 10 μL each of the eluted fractions was developed by SDS-PAGE, and proteins were detected by Western blot. Similar procedures were performed using ConA lectin except that 0.5 M methylmannoside was used in elution.

(Results)

The lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins obtained by the steps described above are shown in FIG. 3.

5. Fractionation by Immunoprecipitation

Antibodies against all the candidate glycoproteins shown in Table 1 were biotinylated, if unbiotinylated, using Biotin Labeling Kit-NH₂ (Dojindo Laboratories) according to the manual. 1 μg of the biotinylated antibodies was added to 100 μL of each culture supernatant and shaken at 1,400 rpm at 20° C. for 2 hours. For washing of magnetic beads (Invitrogen Corp.), 100 μL of TBSTx (50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0), 150 mM NaCl, and 1% Triton X-100) was added to 20 μL of the magnetic beads and stirred, followed by supernatant removal three times by centrifugation (10,000 rpm, 3 sec.). The reacted culture supernatant and antibodies were transferred to the magnetic beads and shaken at 1,400 rpm at 20° C. for 1 hour. The antibodies bound with the magnetic beads were recovered using a magnetic stand. The recovered magnetic beads were washed three times with 1 mL of TBSTx. After addition of 20 ul of an elution buffer (0.2% SDS in TBS), the mixture was stirred and then heated two times at 98° C. or 60° C. for 5 minutes for elution. In order to remove the antibodies on the eluted sample, 40 μL of magnetic beads washed in the same way as above was added to the eluted sample and shaken at 1,400 rpm at 20° C. for 2 hours. The antibody-bound magnetic beads were removed using a magnetic stand, and the remaining portion was used as a sample. The prepared sample was developed by SDS-PAGE and then subjected to lectin blot.

(Results)

The lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins obtained by the steps described above are shown in FIG. 4.

6. Evaluation by Lectin Blot

10 μL of the immunoprecipitated sample was developed on a 10% gel by SDS-PAGE. After SDS-PAGE, the proteins were transferred to a PVDF membrane (GE Healthcare Japan Corp.). The PVDF membrane was blocked with 5% BSA at room temperature for 1 hour and then reacted with already biotinylated AAL lectin (Seikagaku Corp.) at room temperature for 1 hour. Then, the membrane was reacted with secondary antibody-HRP-conjugated streptavidin at room temperature for 1 hour. The proteins were detected using Western Lightning. PBS-T was used in the dilution of lectin.

(Results)

The lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins obtained by the steps described above are shown in FIG. 4.

7. Column Fractionation of Serum Using AAL Lectin

Serum was fractionated using AAL lectin. Specifically, a commercially available column was packed with 1 mL of an AAL-conjugated resin and washed with TBS in an amount of 10 times the amount of the resin, with 0.5 M NaCl in an amount of twice the amount of the resin, and with TBS in an amount of 10 times the amount of the resin to prepare an AAL column. Serum was added to the AAL column and then reacted for 1 hour in the resin. Then, the column was washed with TBS in an amount of 5 times the amount of the resin. For elution, 1 mL of 20 mM fucose was added thereto and reacted for 1 hour in the resin. Then, 4 mL of 20 mM fucose was further added thereto (a total of 5 mL) to elute the proteins.

(Results)

The lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins obtained by the steps described above are shown in FIG. 5.

8. Fractionation of Serum by Serial Chromatography

Serum was fractionated at a low temperature by serial chromatography using LCA agarose (J-Oil Mills, Inc.) and AAL agarose (J-Oil Mills, Inc.). Specifically, 100 μL of serum was diluted 4-fold with PBS. The serum sample was first applied to a column packed with 5 mL of LCA agarose (0.7×13 cm). Next, the obtained unbound serum fractions were applied to a column packed with 2.5 mL of AAL agarose (0.7×5.5 cm). After sufficient washing with PBS, the proteins were eluted with PBS containing 0.2 M fucose. The eluted fractions were concentrated through Ultrafree™ Centrifugal Filter Device (cutoff: 30 kDa, Millipore Corp.). The candidate molecules in the obtained samples were analyzed by comparison by immunoblot in the same way as above.

(Results)

The lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins obtained by the steps described above are shown in FIG. 6.

9. Multisample Fractionation of Serum by Serial Chromatography

The multisample comparative analysis of sera requires fractionating a small amount of a serum sample in a short time. For this purpose, high-throughput serial chromatography was established. Sera were fractionated by serial chromatography using LCA agarose (J-Oil Mills, Inc.) and AAL agarose (Vector Laboratories, Inc.). 50 μL of a serum sample was applied to a tip column packed with 300 μL of LCA agarose (0.37×2.3 cm). Next, the obtained unbound serum fractions were applied to an open column packed with 250 μL of AAL agarose (0.8×0.5 cm). After sufficient washing with PBS, the proteins were eluted with PBS containing 0.02 M fucose. The eluted fractions were concentrated through Ultrafree™ Centrifugal Filter Device (cutoff: 30 kDa, Millipore Corp.). The candidate molecules in the obtained samples (corresponding to 10 μL of sera) were analyzed by comparison by immunoblot in the same way as above.

(Results)

The lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins obtained by the steps described above are shown in FIG. 8.

10. Antibody-Overlay Lectin Array

An appropriate amount of the glycoprotein solution obtained in the paragraph “5. Fractionation by immunoprecipitation” was adjusted to 60 μL with PBSTx (phosphate-buffered saline containing 1% Triton X-100) as a lectin array reaction buffer. This solution was added to each reaction vessel of a lectin array composed of 8 reaction vessels per a single glass plate, and reacted at 20° C. for 10 hours or longer. This lectin array substrate composed of 8 reaction vessels was prepared according to the approach of Uchiyama et al. (Proteomics 8, 3042-3050 (2008)). In this way, the binding reaction between the glycans on the glycoproteins and 43 types of lectins immobilized on the array substrate reaches an equilibrium state. In order to prevent noise from being generated by the binding of the glycans of antibodies for detection to unreacted lectins on the substrate, 2 μL of a human serum-derived IgG solution (manufactured by Sigma-Aldrich Corp.) was then added and reacted for 30 minutes. Each reaction vessel was washed three times with 60 μL of PBSTx. Then, 2 μL of a human serum-derived IgG solution was added thereto again and slightly stirred. Subsequently, biotinylated antibodies for detection against the glycoproteins were added in an amount corresponding to 100 ng and reacted at 20° C. for 1 hour. After this antigen-antibody reaction, each reaction vessel was washed three times with 60 μl, of PBSTx. Then, the array was scanned with an array scanner GlycoStation manufactured by Moritex Corporation to compare fluorescence intensities on the lectin spots reacted in a lung cancer tissue-specific manner.

(Results)

The lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins obtained by the steps described above are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

The results of these experiments revealed that some lectins, such as PNA and PWM, other than AAL or ConA and lectins having specificity related to these ligands are effective for the differential diagnosis of lung cancer. This means that a plurality of lectin signals derived from glycoproteins may be combined in various ways to thereby more accurately determine the histological type of lung cancer.

Example 2 Histological Staining of Lung Cancer Cell Using Lung Cancer Differential Marker

Histological staining with antibodies was tested using lung cancer differential markers.

First, paraffin that covered a formalin-fixed lung cancer tissue section (5 μm thick) was removed according to a standard method. The deparaffinized tissue section was washed with PBS, dried in air, and then dipped in a 10 mM citrate buffer. The intermolecular (intramolecular) bridges derived from formalin fixation were dissociated by autoclaving at 121° C. for 15 minutes. The section thus treated was left standing at room temperature for a while and then dipped three repetitive times in PBS for 5 minutes to wash the surface of the tissue. Subsequently, the section was treated with 0.3% H₂O₂-MeOH at room temperature for 10 minutes for the blocking reaction of endogenous peroxidase. After washing with PBS (5 min.×3), a primary antibody solution (R&D Systems, Inc.; anti-NPR antibody suspended at a concentration of 3 μg/mL in PBS) was added onto the tissue section to cause binding reaction at 20° C. for 2 hours in a humidifying box. After washing with PBS (5 min.×3), chromogenic reaction was initiated using an anti-sheep FITC conjugate (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc.) as a secondary antibody and an anti-FITC HRP conjugate (Takara Bio Inc.) as an enzymatically labeled antibody and terminated by dipping in Milli-Q water for 5 minutes three times. Finally, the nucleic acids were stained with hematoxylin at room temperature for 1 minute, followed by washing in running water.

(Results)

The lung cancer differential marker glycoproteins obtained by the steps described above are shown in FIG. 7. Staining specific only for small cell cancer was confirmed.

All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for determining whether a test subject afflicted with lung cancer is afflicted with small cell lung cancer comprising: (i) detecting a lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein glycosylated with a glycan at an asparagine residue or at least one fragment thereof in a sample obtained from the test subject, and (ii) determining whether the test subject is afflicted with small cell lung cancer by determining whether the glycoprotein or the fragment thereof is present in the sample; wherein the presence of the glycoprotein or fragment in the sample indicates that the test subject is afflicted with small cell lung cancer, and wherein: (a) the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein is secretogranin III, and the glycoprotein and the fragment thereof comprise an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 56 and SEQ ID NO: 57, wherein SEQ ID NO: 56 is glycosylated with a glycan at the asparagine residue at position 13 and SEQ ID NO: 57 is glycosylated with a glycan at the asparagine residue at position 6; (b) the lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein or the fragment thereof is detected using at least one glycan probe that binds to a fucosylated glycan, a high mannose-type glycan, a hybrid-type glycan, or a biantennary complex-type glycan, wherein the glycan probe is AAL lectin and/or ConA lectin, an antibody, or a phage antibody; and (c) the sample is a body fluid, lung cancer tissue or a lung lavage.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the body fluid is pleural effusion, lymph, a cell extract, sputum, or blood comprising serum, plasma and interstitial fluid.
 3. A method of distinguishing between small cell lung cancer and lung adenocarcinoma in a test subject afflicted with small cell lung cancer or lung adenocarcinoma, the method comprising: (i) detecting binding of AAL lectin and/or ConA lectin to a lung cancer differential marker glycoprotein or at least one fragment thereof in a sample obtained from the test subject by contacting the sample with the lectin, and (ii) determining that the lung cancer in the test subject is small cell lung cancer if the glycoprotein or fragment thereof in the sample acquired from the test subject binds to AAL and/or ConA, or that the lung cancer in the test subject is lung adenocarcinoma if the glycoprotein or fragment thereof in the sample acquired from the test subject does not bind to both AAL and ConA, wherein the glycoprotein is secretogranin III and the glycoprotein and the fragment thereof comprise an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 56 and SEQ ID NO: 57, wherein SEQ ID NO: 56 is glycosylated with a glycan at the asparagine residue at position 13 and SEQ ID NO: 57 is glycosylated with a glycan at the asparagine residue at position 6; and wherein the sample is a body fluid, lung cancer tissue or a lung lavage.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the body fluid is pleural effusion, lymph, a cell extract, sputum, or blood comprising serum, plasma and interstitial fluid. 